Abstract: Community pharmacists can enhance HIV PrEP uptake and adherence, but existing policies and literature do not highlight their roles in the country. Additionally, limited studies highlight how the knowledge and attitude of Filipino community pharmacists affect the behavioral skills like willingness, comfort, and confidence to provide HIV PrEP services. The present study not only aims to fill the practical knowledge gap in literature but also to understand the current position of community pharmacists regarding their knowledge, attitude, and behavioral skills regarding HIV PrEP therapy and education. This study used a quantitative descriptive design to survey a purposive sample of community pharmacists in Region XI (also known as Davao Region). Descriptive statistics, correlational, and multiple regression were used to identify the respondents’ knowledge, attitude, and behavioral skills and how these variables relate. The survey questionnaire utilized was developed from previous studies, further validated, and showed appropriate reliability. Community pharmacists in Davao Region showed average knowledge (mean score=58.98%), high levels of attitude (mean score=4.17), and behavioral skills (mean score=3.41). Attitude was found to be a key predictor of behavioral skill (p=.013). At the same time, knowledge did not correlate significantly with behavioral skills (p>.05). To conclude, the current position of community pharmacists towards HIV PrEP therapy and education is favorable. They can extend their roles to provide referrals, counseling, and adherence-related services regarding HIV PrEP but training is necessary to target key areas of improvement.
Keywords: Pharmacy, Public Health, HIV PrEP, attitude, knowledge, behavioral skills, Community Pharmacists, Philippines.
Title: Knowledge and Attitude on Behavioral Skills to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis of Community Pharmacists in Region XI
Author: Von Jay Maico G. Gabucan, Ferlien Mae B. Brieta
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 10, Issue 2, October 2022 - March 2023
Page No: 239-246
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 11-March-2023,
1st Amendment Date: 01-July-2023
2nd Amendment Date: 24-January-2024
